Bracket for valve fixtures



Dec. 8. 1953 l.. ToRToRlcE BRACKET F'OR VALVE FIXTURES Filed June 21,1951 Louis ,Tororlllywm' ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 8, 1953 UNITED STATES fPATENT OFFICE BRACKET FOR. VALVE FIXTURES Louis Tortorice, Bristol, R.I.

Application June 21, 1951, Serial No. 232,783

1 Claim. l

This invention relates to a bracket for a valve iixture such as may beused for a combination bathtub and shower in which there are usuallythree tubular parts to be supported in the wall.

Heretofore, fixtures or the character here referred to have beensupported by some sort of a piece of wood, sometimes bored, to receivethe three tubular parts of the fixture. This is a hand operation done onthe job and measurement is required for spacing the holes to be boredaccurately.

One of the objects of this invention is to prc vide a preformed orprefabricated bracket which will have openings of a size to receive thestandard valve parts therein, the bracket being so con*- structed andarranged that it may be adjusted to be supported between upright studsof the building even though they may be somewhat varying in thedistances they are apart.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bracket which isequipped with means for cenu tering the parts of the valve xture whichpase through the bracket and for clamping these parts securely in suchcentered position.

Another object of the invention is to provide 'f a bracket which hassupports which are easily adjustable for accommodation between studs oruprights of various sizes.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certainnovel features of construction, as will be more fully described andparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional view through the bracket showing the valvefixture as secured in place therein;

Figure 2 is a perspective View of the bracket alone; and

Figure 3 is a sectional view on substantially line 3-3 of Figure 1illustrating the means of holding the parts of the valve xture inposition.

in proceeding with this invention, I have pro vided a body member with aplurality of openings in this body member from each of which a collarextends, these collars being cylindrical and with their axes parallel.Adjustably secured to each end of the body member there are supportingor wing members which may be guided in the body member but which may beheld in various positions of adjustment with reference to the bodymember. These wings have portions extending at right angles to the bodymember to be secured to the insides or sides nearest each other ofupright studs of a building adjacent the point of mounting of the Valvefor the combination shower and tub xture.

With reference to the drawings, I0 designates a pair of studs which areupright in a building into which the valve iixture Il is to beinstalled. This valve fixture comprises three tubular parts I2, I3 and I4 which are connected together and are so arranged that the hot watermay be turned on by the manipulation through the tube I2, the cold waterby manipulation through the tube iii, while manipulation through thetube 3 directs the water either into the tub or to the shower over thetub depending upon the manipulation of this part. Handles are usuallyprovided on the studs I2', I3 and I4' for this purpose.

The bracket which I have provided is designated generally I5 andconsists of a body part I6 with its opposite edges rolled back uponitself as at I'I and I8. A plurality of openings IB are provided in thisbody I6 and from each of these openings a cylindrical collar 2B extendson the same side of the member I6. Each cylindrical collar is equippedwith a screw 2l having a head 22, the screws being arranged in the topof each collar to thread through the collar, as shown in Figure 3, so asto engage one of the tubular parts of the valve II and force it into thearcuate portion 23 of the collar which serves to center the valve xturewith reference to the bracket, bringing the parts into their relativeposition, as shown in Figure 1.

This body member I5 is provided with wing members designated generally25, each consisting of a part 26 which is slidably received in theinturned guides I'I and I8 and a securing part 2l provided with openings28 for receiving screws 29 to hold these wings to the studs I@ at theheight desired. The bracket will be placed in the desired position priorto the securing of the valve xture in the bracket. In order toadjustably secure the parts 26 to the body member I6, slots 3|] areprovided in the members 25 and bolts 3| extend through these slots andthrough openings in the body member with nuts 32 on the back so as tohold the wing members 25 in adjusted position relative to the bodymember for spanning the distance between the upright studs I Il.

By this arrangement a very simple bracket is provided for supporting thevalve xture and one which may be easily and quickly installed whereverbath and shower installations are to be provided.

I claim:

A bracket for a valve fixture having a plurality of equally spacedtubular parts extending parallel to each other in a straight line,comprising an elongated body having a guide groove at each longitudinaledge thereof opening towards each other, said body having a plurality ofcircular openings through which said tubular members are adapted toproject, said openings extending in a straight line substantially midwaybetween the longitudinal edges of said body and spaced from each other adistance substantially equal to the spacing of said tubular members andeach being of a size much larger than said tubular members Crosswisethereof and surrounded by a collar having a threaded member extendingthrough the Wall thereof for engaging and clamping the tubular memberprojecting therethrough against the wall of said collar, and an L-rhapeWing part at each end portion of said body having one leg thereofslidably received in said guide grooves and each provided with an open'ended slot, a bolt in said body in said slot independently adjustablysecuring said wing part to said body.

the other leg thereof having openings therethrough for receivingfastening means for securing said bracket in place.

LOUIS TORTORICE.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 312,193 Duffy Feb. 10, 1885 833,613 Maiser Oct. 16, 19051,133,535 Cain et al Mar. 10, 1915 1,156,885 Caine Oct. 19, 19151,414,792 Seither Niay 2, 1922 1,667,124 Liniger Apr. 24, 1928 2,237,710McMurry Apr. 8, 1941 2,247,954 Levaggi July 1, 1941 2,295,888 Bucknellet al Sept. 15, 1942

